Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Essentials By Ellen Release Blog Hop




I am thrilled to be participating in the Spring 2015 Essentials by Ellen Release Hop! I’ll be showcasing a few of the new stamp sets and dies In my post today!

And, I also get to give this new stamp set, called Amazing Women to a lucky someone! Please leave a comment to enter my giveaway!



You should have arrived from Catherine Pooler's blog, but the fun begins in the CLASSroom and there is also a Grand Giveaway! To enter, be sure to leave a comment there, and at every stop along the hop by May 5th! Winners will be announced May 8th.

I have three cards to share with you today.  The first two feature the Wild Garden dies.  These are my very favorite item from this release, so I was thrilled to be assigned the set to work with.  


These dies are perfect for inlaying, and my first card is a little bit of a twist on the inlaid technique.  I first painted some circles and leaf shapes on mixed media paper using Dylusions Ink sprays.  I used two colors for each of the flowers/leaves.  I really like mixed media paper as it's a very bright white, very smooth, and doesn't warp too much.  Once that was dry the flowers and leaves were die cut.  I also die cut the flowers/leaves from black cardstock.

Using the black outline pieces as a guide, the flower petals and the leaves were adhered to the card. I didn't actually adhere the outline, just used it to place the inner portions of the flowers.  


Once all the inner portions of the die cuts were adhered, I added the black outlines.  These were only adhered in the centers, and I used my fingers to kind of soften/curl the cardstock up to add dimension.  I finished it off with a sentiment from the Mondo Magnolia set.


For my second card I first created a base of embossed leaves.  I've got a quick little tutorial for you on this.  



1) Die cut the leaf from a piece of vellum, using the negative cut as a stencil.  Vellum works best because you can see through it and it helps with placement.  


2) Using a sponge dauber and Versamark, lightly daub around the edge of the leaf and emboss.


3) Repeat as desired to create cluster/background.

The embossed leaves act as a great base for my die cuts, they fill out the space and add texture and depth.  


The sentiment is from the Amazing Women set.  The set is perfect for Mother's Day covering the gamut of ladies in your life, but I love the unique sentiments in the set.  A few gold and black sequins finish off the card.

Finally, I just had to make something using very appropriately named Mondo Magnolia.  It's a gorgeous, big, bold, bloom.  There's a matching die, but I was in the mood to fussy cut.  I tried to pick yellow papers that slowly graduated in color, getting darker towards the center of the flower.  The outer two layers were each stamped/cut twice, and adhered offset to one another in order to create a fuller flower.  I also used Copics to color the portions of the petals that curl up in the image.


While I stamped the outer layers of the flower with Memento, I wanted that center spray to really pop, so that was stamped with Versafine and then clear embossed.  


For a bold splash/contrast, I added painted acrylic brushstrokes to the card base before adhering the flower.  The sentiment, also from Amazing Women, was embossed in white, and a few silver sequins add some sparkle.

OK, that's all for me today.  Your next stop is Heather Pulverenti, and I've got the entire hop list below for you too.  There's a giveaway on each stop and so many good things to see, so be sure to make your way through, you won't be disappointed!

HOPPERS:
—>The CLASSroom - http://ellenhutson.typepad.com/the_classroom_new/ <—
Lisa Adametz - http://papergrace.com/
Sandy Allnock - http://sandyallnock.com/
Joni Nina Andaya - http://jonininaandaya.blogspot.com/
Joan Bardee - http://www.dearpaperlicious.com/
Laurel Beard - http://www.laurelbeard.org/
Heather Campbell - http://parkermolly.blogspot.com/
Kittie Caracciolo - http://www.kittiekraft.com/
Julie Ebersole - http://papertrufflez.com/
Sharon Harnist - http://paperfections.typepad.com/
Pamela Ho - https://fishydesign.wordpress.com/
Tiffany Johnson - http://iheartartblog.com/
Emily Leiphart - http://leiphartonart.blogspot.com/
Jennifer McGuire - http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/
May Park - https://mayholicraft.wordpress.com/
Catherine Pooler - http://www.catherinepooler.com/blog/
Miriam Prantner - http://mprantner.blogspot.com/
Heather Pulvirenti - http://heatherpulvirenti.blogspot.com/
Julia Stainton - http://juliastainton.com/blog/
Alice Wertz - http://aliceslittlewonderland.blogspot.com/
Carissa Wiley - http://www.sprinkledwithglitter.com/

327 comments:

  1. Amazing, Miriam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love the creative use of die cuts. Your cards are all inspiring!!!!

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  2. BEAUTIFUL! My favorite of the hop -- your use of the dies looks amazing! I'm sold.

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  3. Hi Miriam! Bold, dramatic, gorgeous!!! Just amazing - always...
    =] Michele

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  4. These are absolutely amazing, girl! Love all the layers, and your use of die cuts is phenomenal! Plus, I'm totally loving these fonts! I'm not familiar with this stamp company. Thanks for the introduction!

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  5. OMG! All of these cards are stunning!!

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  6. amazingly gorgeous projects and new products!!

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  7. Miriam! LOVE everything...wow wow wow!

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  8. Yeah "gorgeous" doesn't even cover these cards; THEY ARE AMAZING!! So beautiful!

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  9. I love your layering techniques and you have inspired me to try something like this. TFS! kren@afourthlife.blogspot.com

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  10. Holy guacamole, Miriam!!! All three cards are stunners!

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  11. Wow..... three amazing, amazing projects-beautiful color/detail/design!

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  12. What beautiful cards! Love them all!

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  13. jaw dropping! i adore the gold card. those die cuts are so perfect!
    -Rachel
    rwkrafts.com

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  14. Amazing Creations and Technique.....LOVE!

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  15. Wowzers, such beautiful cards. Your flowers are so unique looking and I appreciate the photos to be able to see the dimension and how you actually made the cards. Love it!!! hugs, :)

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  16. So creative! I love the black flower outline!

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  17. GORGEOUS!!!! Love how rich all your colors are! Every one of these cards are just so deliciously rich and filling. LOVE ♥

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  18. I adore your cards...rich in content and color!

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  19. GORGEOUS cards, I love the brilliant colored inlaid flowers - thanks for the tip with mixed media paper, the softly sponged and embossed leaves are so elegant and the patterned paper Mondo Magnolia is stunning, love the black brushstrokes in the background!

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  20. Gorgeous creations! Love all of the layering!!

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  21. Love that bold look on those flowers!

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  22. Wow! I love the bold and beautiful look that you got with black outline!

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  23. Stunning!! I really like the way you let the dies lift off the card!

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  24. The cards are gorgeous. And of course, you have inspired me. Thanks!

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  25. Fantastic cards. I'm so in love with the versatility I'm seeing from one blog to the next using these stamps & dies.

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  26. Thanks for the neat tutorial - I will try that technique. Love how your designs just pop off the card. Amazing use of the new release.

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  27. Wow, amazing techniques. What beautiful cards!

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  28. WOW! Gorgeous cards! LOVE this sentiment set!

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  29. Amazing!!!! I love all the dimension and textures you created. Thank you for sharing!

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  30. WOW! I love these cards!

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  31. The gold stenciling is amazing. I pinned that idea!

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  32. I am speechless, that is how much i liked your cards! thank you for sharing and a great idea with leaves embossing - so cool - and looks just awesome!!!

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  33. stunning cards!! very creative, thank you for sharing ♥

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  34. love both of your cards - thanks for the great embossing tip - so effective!

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  35. Love your cards, they are just beautiful!

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  36. Both your cards are beautiful! I love the vellum leaves technique & plan to try that! Thanks

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  37. Very much like the 2nd card and can't wait to try this technique. Some shopping to do I guess! LOL

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  38. what a cool idea for embossing-hope I can remember it, lol

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  39. You're layering is the best I've ever seen. So luscious! Great ideas, thanks!

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  40. Your cards are beautiful. I love the rich colors on the first and using the outlines in black. On your second card, using the vellum as a stencil is a great idea. You do beautiful work and your card designs are so nice. TFS

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  41. Just WOW. Love your creations. Thanks for sharing your talent.

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  42. You do such lovely work with the die cuts. Love the flower idea.

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  43. Gorgeous cards!!! Thank you for sharing them with us!

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  44. Amazing works! That yellow layered flower is STUNNING!! And the gold leaves...I can keep going!

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  45. Miriam, you rocked those products. I saw your red blooms over in the EH store and was amazed. Even thought you might have glossy accented them. Dylusions are just so vibrant! Genius to outline them with black CS. And thanks for the tip about Versamark through a stencil. Have to try that.

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  46. Amazing projects!!! I can't stop looking at them. Just beautiful...

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  47. Amazing work, love the colours and embossing technique you have used.
    Thank you for sharing your crafting with us

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  48. Your cards are stunning! I'm in love with the gold and black version.

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  49. Wonderful cards, so many ideas, great inspiration.

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  50. Gorgeous cards. I love bold drama of the first card!

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  51. LOVELOVELOVE!! These are gorgeous!! Thank you so much for sharing!!

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  52. Wow! All of your cards are absolutely STUNNING! I love all of the beautiful dimension you included on each card, just gorgeous!

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  53. The gold leaf card is beautiful. Thanks for the vellum stencil tip

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  54. Great ideas. I can't wait to try the embossed leaf one.

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  55. Oh my goodness, where do I begin? Your cards are stunning, I can't wait to try the gold leaf card!! Thanks for the inspiration.

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  56. All of your cards are beautiful but the gold tone one is to die for! It is absolutely stunning!

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  57. Hi Miriam. Both your cards are so very pretty. Thanks for the tutorial. I will definately give that a try.

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  58. lovely work; i especially love the yellow flower!

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  59. Beautiful! I love the gold tone one with the die cuts. Thanks for sharing how you did it.

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  60. Oh my are you ever talented! Absolutely breathtaking! Just added you to my list of blogs that I must read!

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  61. Goodness! Your cards are AH-mazing!

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  62. The black and gold is inspired. Thanks for the video on how it was done.

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  63. Ellen looks good on you, Miriam...these are all absolutely amazing! Bold and just plain gorgeous!!!

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  64. OMG these are FANTASTIC!! I am so going case! Thank you

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  65. Fabulous cards! Each one is so gorgeous. Thanks for the tutorial, what a great technique!

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  66. Oh Miriam... Stunning as always!!

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  67. Love your techiniques and color combos!!

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  68. Your designs are gorgeous! Don't you love the new release?

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  69. LOVE these cards. The layered magnolia is fabulous, and I can't wait to try the technique of sponging the negative die cut and embossing. Really pretty!

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  70. I love the black ourlines of flower. Awesome!! Thank you.

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  71. I love the cards you have created. Love the embossed leaves on the background. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  72. That sponging technique is one I definitely will try. Your cards are all so fabulous!! Love what you did with Mondo Magnolia - stunning. Thanks so much for sharing your creativity.

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  73. wow your cards are gorgeous.. love those beautiful flower dies..

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  74. Beautiful cards! I love how you used the negative space from the leaves to create a stencil. Great inspiration!

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  75. can;t believe i'm still being surprised and inspired, i thought for sure all possible combinations must have been used, up comes a paper pieced bloo..fab! thank you for sharing

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  76. Totally in love with your cards. Can't wait to try your embossed background technique.

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  77. thank you for tutorial and your cards in gold black and vellum are gorgeous !!

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  78. Your style and dimension on your cards is outstanding.

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  79. this is a beautiful release. great effects on your cards, some I have never seen before !!

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  80. Both cards are so pretty.
    I love the ways you used
    the dies as stencils and
    on the cards.
    Carla from Utah

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  81. WOW!!! These are just GORGEOUS!!!! Just absolutely STUNNING...

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  82. The paper pieced magnolia takes my breath away, WOW WOW WOW!!!

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  83. Beautiful cards Miriam. Love the black and red on the first one. The gold partial heat embossing looks amazing! Very classy look.

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  84. So very very pretty Miriam!! TFS!
    Dolly

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  85. Love the graphic look of these cards!

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  86. Beautiful and the use of the gold is so elegant and unexpected.

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  87. Every card is fabulous for different reasons! The Dylusions ink just bursts with color on the first card. The gold on the second card is so elegant. Love the layers on the third card.

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  88. Miriam, I subscribe to you for a reason and this is why! These cards (AND stamps/dies) are absolutely amazing! I love how you sponged on the Versamark and embossed the leaves underneath!
    THIS is why I check out these hops. You really get to see some awesome cards and they are so different even though you see so many of the same stamps used. A great way to show their versatility!

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  89. Your cards are absolutely beautiful.

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  90. Wow! Simply stunning! Nice choice of colors! I LOVE your style! You are upper crust of crafters for sure in my book!

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  91. Amazing cards! I adore this new release and you have used these products so beautifully!!


































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  92. I really like your embossed leaf card - stunning!

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  93. Love, love, love your projects! They are all super pretty!

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  94. That first card is right up my alley in terms of style, but the way you used the gold on that second card is beautiful!

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  95. Oh so beautiful! The embossed leaves are so clever!

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  96. You have made 2 beautiful cards!! Thank you for adding the tutorial also!! I absolutely love the first card with the black die cuts around the edges of the flowers!! What a great way to add dimension to the card. I have never seen that technique before. You are very talented!!!

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  97. These cards are simply beautiful! I really love your work. My favorite is the first with the black embossed diecutting on top. Striking!

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  98. Very striking ! Reach out and touch me with your talent, OK? :0)

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  99. All three of your cards are stunning, Miriam! Thanks for sharing!

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  100. great cards love it !

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  101. lovely embossed cards. just beautiful.

    Shirley
    (shirleybaker19@hotmail.com)

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  102. You're cards are just amazing!

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  103. Beautiful cards, Miriam! I couldn't wait to see them after the peeks you shared
    and you never disappoint!

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  104. These are absolutely stunning cards!

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  105. Absolutely stunning creations!

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  106. These are gorgeous! LOVING the colors!!!!!!!!

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  107. I like them all, but the black and gold die cuts on the embossed leaves is just a stunner!

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  108. Oh my. Wow! Love what you've done with these new sets. Gorgeous creations.

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  109. Your cards are so striking. Great idea about embossing some leaves for the background. Thanks for sharing.

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  110. Wow oh wow! All these are amazing. Love the use of the vellum and the embossing!

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  111. The gold embossing in the background is genius! I love the paper pieced flower too!

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  112. So striking! Thanks for your photo tutorial!

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  113. WOW...these are simply amazing...love them all!

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  114. What gorgeous, artistic looking cards! Thanks so much for the tutorial.

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  115. What gorgeous, artistic looking cards! Thanks so much for the tutorial.

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  116. What gorgeous, artistic looking cards! Thanks so much for the tutorial.

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  117. Beautiful creations. Thanks for the idea of the embossed leaves, Really classy looking.

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  118. The black and gold is so elegant. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  119. really cool effects on all your cards!

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  120. Your cards are true works of art

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  121. What a fantastic technique for embossing! Thank you for the tip!

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  122. I wish you could see me reading your posts ... I'm usually nodding and applauding through the whole thing! Love how you didn't glue down the black outline, the "sponged" embossed gold leaves is such a great idea, and the different values of yellow patterned paper work so well, especially with coloring the ends of them. Wonderful post, Miriam!

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  123. Your cards are stunning! I love the second card with black and gold (even though I'm not a gold person).

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  124. Beautiful details in your die cutting.

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  125. You totally rocked these dies and flowers!!!!

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  126. I think this is my favorite die also.

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  127. Love your cards and how you used the dies.

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  128. absolutely gorgeous cards! love how ur dies are like art and start off from the paper to create a more 3D look...beautiful!

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  129. I love the embossing with a stencil.

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  130. These are all so beautiful! Great way to showcase the new release!

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  131. Beautiful cards. I love how they just pop!!

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  132. Great use of the die cuts. Well done!

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  133. My goodness your cards are beautiful! Love the red inlay. That color is amazing!

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  134. Wow all of your cards are gorgeous!! Love what you did with the vellum leaf stencil!!

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  135. YOUR CARDS ARE FEASTS FOR MY EYES!!! Love them so much - every one made me gasp in awe and delight!! You know that you are an amazing crafter - right?!?!!!!! I think you are just so amazing and these cards are certainly STUNNING!!!

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  136. Oh my... Miriam... your cards are so striking! Love the vibrant colours!

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  137. The dimensions you achieved is just magical!

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  138. Girl, you're on a roll! These cards are amazing. You totally inspired me.

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  139. WOWOWOWOWOWOW!! SO IN LOVE with the New Release and I CAN’T WAIT to get ahold of these!! =) SQUEAL!! LOVING your AWESOME Cards!! AMAZING Designs and I LOVE the Embossed Technique you shared!! =) THANKS SO MUCH for sharing and have a FABULOUS WEEK!! =)

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  140. Gorgeous cards! You are so talented! Love the new release!

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  141. Love, love, love! These are awesome and just gorgeous.

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  142. Gorgeous creations from this new EH release! Love each one of them!! The first one took my breath away...

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  143. I love the bold colors you used on the cards!! Amazing!!

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  144. Wow, that inlaid die cut design is so spectacular! Love the colors you used!

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  145. Love your use of black with your cards, visually stunning! Thanks so much for sharing.

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  146. So beautiful! I love the scripty font of the sentiment set!

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  147. Your cards are soooo pretty. Thanks for sharing them and the vellum tips.
    Crafty hugs,
    Dawn
    DesignsByDragonfly.blogspot

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  148. Wow love love Luv your cards just beautiful I just want it all you all have done such amazing cards

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  149. So beautiful! The colors on that first card really pop!

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  150. I love how you used those die cuts! Beautiful cards!!

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  151. Absolutely gorgeous colors and dimension! Love, love, love!

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  152. Amazing cards!
    Love your designs :)

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  153. What wonderful cards! Very unusual color! Thank you!

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  154. Wowza!! Miriam!! Your cards are all so stunning! Love the bold mix of colors from the Dylusions ink sprays and the thin, black outline from the die on your 1st card. And your 2nd card? *swoon* the gold and black is so elegant and classy. Nifty trick to make a negative from the die-cut! (I'll try that with Gelatos!) And I just LOVE how unafraid you were to slap down (okay, brush some) acrylic paint to really make that Mondo Magnolia "POP!" And wow...does it pop! It's completely amazing. ♥ You rocked this, girl. xo

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  155. I especially love the second card. Must try that technique!

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  156. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! What an inspiration! Thank you.

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  157. So beautiful! Love them all :)

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  158. Such bold and beautiful designs... Love them! Thank you for sharing your inspiration!

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  159. Your cards are beautiful! Thanks for the mini tutorials - great techniques!!

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  160. Your cards are beautiful! Thanks for the mini tutorials - great techniques!!

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  161. wonderful set of cards... the second one is just gorgeous!

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  162. What fun techniques! Thanks for sharing your inspiration with us!

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  163. Your layered gold/yellow flower may be the most beautiful one I have ever seen. I am definitely adding that image to my shopping cart.

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  164. So I totally love the second card. I can see easily using that for a Christams card! CASEing that one soon!

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  165. I love what you did with the stamps and dies!

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  166. WOW! Your cards are just amazing! I'm in awe!

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  167. These cards are simply stunning!!

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  168. All your cards are so beautiful, but my favorite was the second card looks so elegant!

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  169. Wow! Great use of the gold and the die cut black flower outline.

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  170. Great cards. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  171. WOW on all 3 cards & going to have to try your technique on the 2nd card. How pretty that is with the embossing & the die cuts. So clever!

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  172. Love your cards, especially the second one. Thanx for the mini tutorial.

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  173. Very vibrant cards and great techniques.
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

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  174. Super! Very beautiful cards! Cant take my eyes off it!

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  175. I love all your cards - but the second card - WOW - just WOW! SO beautifully graceful!

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  176. Wow! Awesome cards and techniques!

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  177. Love the vibrant colors. Thanks for the great idea with the gold embossing powder and using the vellum cut-out - love that technique. I'll be using that one!!

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  178. Love these gorgeous flowers. Thanks for the techniques.

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